Apparatus for vaporizing and burning liquids.



E. KOERTING.

APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING AND BURNING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1912. Paten June 20 916 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

mmcm m OKOOO ATTORNEY WITNESSES E. KOERTING.

APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING AND BURNING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED J UNE 7. 1912.

Montvd June 20, 1916.

SHEE T 2.

2 SHEETS WITN ESSES INVE TOR ATTO R N EY ERNST KOERTING, OF PEGLI, ITALY, ASSIGNOR TO SCHUTTE & KOERTING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION .OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June-20, 11916.

Application filed June 7, 1912. Serial No. 702,326.

ratus for Vaporizing and Burning Liquids.

This invention is an improved means for vaporizing liquids generally and liquid hydro-carbons more particularly, its special object being to produce a vaporizer or vaporizer'and burner extremely simple in construction and efficient in operation.

To this end the invention involves the utilization of the reduced liquid tension exon the surface of a porous wall by allowing or causing such oil to ooze through the pores thereof from one side of the wall to the other, as will be hereinafter described.

The drawings forming part hereof show several different embodiments of the invention by Way of illustration of the principles thereof.

Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section, and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section of one of such embodiments; Fig. 3 an alternative means of controlling the same Fig. 4 a developed form of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross section of a modified form taken on 30 line 5-5 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 is a central vertical section of Fig. Fig. 7 ieprcsents a cross section of a modified form of liquid receptacle, Fig. 8 a central vertical section of apparatus using this form, and Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively vertical and horizontal sections of a further modification.

I Figs. 1 and 2, 1 represents a receptacle made of unglazed pottery or like porous material pervious to the oil or liquid to be vaporized or burned. Such liquid is supplied to the interior of the receptacle through a valve-controlled pipe 2, from a feed-tank 3, the latter being provided with any suitable means for maintaining a predetermined level or supply in the porous receptacle. In the case of Fig. 2 such means comprise an adjustable supply tank 4, connected with the feed tank and having a vent pipe 5, running from the lower tank and which is obstructed by the oil in the latter, when such oil reaches the level of the lower end of the vent pipe, as will be readily understood. The lower end of the vent pipe may be raised or lowered by raising or lowering the M upper tank and thereby the level of the oil isting in an oil film such as may be produced in the porous receptacle may be adjusted to suit requirements and thereafter automatically retained in such adjustment. A rack and pinion movement is shown in Fig. 2 for raising and lowering the supply tank, though other obvious adjustments can be readily devised to produce the same effect. A cover 6 is placed on the top of the porous receptacle 1 and one or more vent holes 7 are also provided to permit the escape of any vapor that might rise from the liquid therein under conditions of operation. The porous receptacle is supported inside a casing 8 which forms a passageway around the receptacle adapted for conducting a current of air or gas against or over the outer surface of the receptacle. The oil or liquid oozing through the porous wall or Walls of the receptacle 1, forms a film on such surface which by reason of its thoroughly subdivided form and reduced tension is readily taken up by the gas current whether such current engages the surface of the wall in a cold or in a heated condition. Where the gas current comprises air, as is intended, the resulting mixture may be ignited and burned within the casing or at or beyond its nozzle portion, as desired, and in such case the effect of the heat on the, porous receptacle stimulates the oozing transmission of liquid through its walls as well as the vaporization of the resulting surface film. The casing S is made of suitable material with the nozzle portion 9 formed separately from the body portion and adapted to be supported thereon like a cover. Air inlets 10 are provided in the base of the body portion, with dampers 11 to restrict the admission. and similar inlets 12 are also provided in the nozzle portion to supply the flame. The oozing receptacle 1, is preferably supported above the ,floor of the casing on suitable pedestals such as represented by 13. but it will be understood that any suitable means of supporting the porous wall 'in a position to receive the current of air or gas can be used with like effect.

It will be understood that as the liquid is vaporized and consumed the supply in the porous receptacle is automatically replenished by the action of the supply apparatus above described. The rate of combustion or of vaporization, as the case may be, will obviously depend upon the rate of supply of the combustion elements and may be controlled accordingly. For example,

the level or the pressure of the liquid against the porous wall may be varied. The supply cock 2 shown in Fig. 2 is desirably a three-way cock adapted either to open, close or regulate the communication between the feed tank and the porous receptacle, and also to shut off the feed tank and drain the receptacle, in. which condition the flame will quickly discontinue. .The rate of combustion will also depend to some extent upon the area of the porous surface and for larger combustion several porous-walled receptacles may be employed within a single burner casing, as illustrated for example by Fig. 4, wherein the construction and mode of operation are otherwise the same as in Figs. 1 and 2. The shape of the porous receptacles also may be varied. They may, for instance, be annular in form, as shown at 14 in Figs. 5 and 6. In this form the inlet to the vaporizer or burner casing 15 is provided at the bottom and the current of air entering therethrough passes over both the inside and outside of the receptacle 14, which latter is supported in the casing on a suitable cross-bar 16.

In the form of Fig. 8, the porous receptacle, mounted within an exterior casing of the same type as that shown in Fig. 6, is associated with a source of radiant heat within the casing, being itself kept out of the direct contact with the flame. Such source of heat may be provided in the form of a hood 17 of metal hung on the receptacle in any convenient manner and open at the bottom. The oil oozing through the receptacle 18 of this device becomes vaporized by the heat radiated from the hood in the space between the hood and the porous.

wall but such vapor does not mix with the air passing. through the casing until it passes out below the end of the hood into the air current entering'the bottom ofthe casing, at which point and elsewhere in the casing, it may burn. The porous receptacle in this form is illustrated as having a corrugated contour, as shown more clearly in In the form of embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 two receptacles 1, such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, are employed, supplied with liquid in the same manner and surrounded by a burner casing 19 of the same general construction but laid horizontally instead of vertically. The recepof the arrows mixes and burns with the vapor issuing from within the hoods 20, and burns as before, assing out through the nozzle portion 21, as will be plain from a consideration of these figures.

As an alternative and convenient means of controlling the level of the liquid in the porous receptacles, Fig. 3 illustrates a different method according to which 'a float 22 is placed in the oil in the feed tank and connected by a cord with a lever 23, the movement of which serves to turn on and off the supply of liquid through the pipe 24 in a more or less graduated manner which will be readily understood from a consideration of that figure.

It will be understood that the thickness and the nature of the material of which the porous walls are made is to be selected and suited to the character of the liquid to be vaporized. With ordinary fuel oil a porous material such as that used for the manufacture of flower-pots and of approximately a half-inch or less in thickness, is found to be satisfactory.

I claim:

1. A vaporizer for liquids, comprising means for holding a body of the liquid comprising porous earthenware walls inclosing a chamber, means for varying the amount of liquid oozing through such walls, and a casing having its inner surfaces lying adjacent the exterior of such walls and providing a narrow surrounding passage to conduct a gas current in vaporlzing relation thereover.

2. Apparatus for burning liquid fuel comprising a porous walled receptacle, means for introducing liquid fuel into it, a hood partly inclosing and extending down over the sides of such receptacle, adapted to vaporize the fuel oozing through the same, and a burner casing for mixing such vapor with air.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

ERNST KOERTING.

Witnesses:

G. A. TAYLOR, H. G. KIMBALL.

00,1 0! thin patent my be obtained for nve'ecnta each, by addressing the "communion: ot hunts.

, Wuhlngtu,D-0." 

